Starching-machine.



J. LYNCH.

STARCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man www. 1915.

Patented Jan. 2,1917.

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JOHN LYNCH, OlliA HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANI.

sTARcnING-MAGHINE.

religies.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

y lPatented Jan. 2, 1917.

.Applicationrled July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,661.

To all 'whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, JOHN LYNCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsv in Starching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

I have perfected an improvement in laundry machinery; particularly machines for starching clothing and other fabrics after they have been washed and before they are ready to be ironed. y. I

The primary object of my invention is to design a starching machine which isso constructed as to effect the starching uniformly and give the very best possible results.

Other objects of my invention are to pro- Vide a starching machine comprising a container for the starching solution, in which is located a kind of frame-work or cradle which mounts a proper number of elements by which the working of the starch into the article t0 betreated is eected, the elements mentioned being adjustable so as to enable the operation to be performed in the most eflicient manner; to incorporate in such machine a rotatable body or drum which copcrates with the elements just referred to in' such a manner that the position of the body or drum does not have to be changed at all while the machine isin use,-the neces-v sary adjustments being made by changing the positions of other parts of themachine instead; to associate with such drum suitable means for preventing articles clinging to the same when they are readyv to be discharged from the machine; and further; to include in such machine a flexiblecarrier or conveyer, which can easily be regulated, vand which is adapted to move ,the articles to be starched through the machine in such a way as toenable the other parts of the machine to operate with them.

The above and some additional -objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and be clearly pointed out in the appended claims.

In this specification I describe the preferred embodiment of my invention; but it is to be understood that changes in the structure thereof can be made within the scope of the claims, as particularly indicated by lvariations in the phrasing of the same, without departing from the spirit of my invention. f

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan of one form ofmy starching machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view through lthey parts of my-'machine by which the starch is worked into the article to be treated.

On .the drawings the same numerals of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

My machine comprises asuitable framework 1, having the form of a cradle, above vthe middle of which is mounted a hollow body in the form of a'drum 2 supported upon an operating shaft 3; and below the cradle is af container or pan l in which the starching solution isl deposited. Mounted transversely in the cradle 6, some distance above the bottom of the pan 4: and between the same and the drum 2 are a number of working elements in the form of corrugated rollers 5, which act to knead or pressthe starch into the fibers of the article to be starched as it passes 'between these rollers and the lower half of the periphery of the drum. The cradle consists of side frames 6 which are united by means of cross-bars or tie-rods 7; and are approximately semi-circular in form, so as to make them correspond substantially with the curvature of the bottom of the container 4L. Throughthe pan and between the bot-v tomjthereof and the drum 2 runs a flexible carrierl8,'which is preferably made of a long strip of chamoisk cloth having its opposite ends joined together to make an endless band; and this band is looped around the corrugated rollers 5.

The centers of the rollers 5 arearranged on the arc of a -circle which is concentric with the drum 2, and these rollers are arranged'so that they can be readily adjusted and their pressures toward the periphery of the drum 2 accurately equalized. Heretofore in many cases, the rollers 5 have been affixed in the cradle 1; and any adjustment required had to be obtained by changing the position of the drum 2. Such a plan, howfirst, because the shaft 3 is connected to a suitable driving pinion and for that reason it was not possible to change the position of the drum except within certain narrow limits; and second, because even if the position of the drum 2 had been changed the result was always too much pressure either upon the lowermost rolls or uppermost rolls. As a consequence the starching would vary and the performance ofthe machine'was often quite unsatisfactory. l have overcome these defects by mounting Ythe rollers 5 so that their trunnions or journals are received in supporting members or frames 9 which are resiliently supported adjacent the side frames 6 of the cradle 1. Each of the frames 9 will receive the adjacent ends of a set of rollers 5 shown as three in number, and a similar frame will receive the opposite ends of the rollers in the same set on the other side of the machine. The outside rollers of each set are aflixed in their frames 9; that is to say, they are not adjustable except by moving the frame 9; but the middle roller of each set is yieldably mounted by providing the two frames connecting it with the central sockets 10 containing curled springs 11, and furnishing` journal boxes 12 on the trunnions or journals at the opposite end of this middle roller. These journal boxes are allowed to move toward and from the center of the drum`2 in radial slots in the frames 9; and it will now be seen that these rollers 5 can be moved by the springs 11 toward the drum or forced away from the drum against these springs. Each frame is also provided with a pair of perforated lugs 14l between which is pivotally secured Va shank or bolt 15 which passes through a pair of struts 16 comprised in the side frames 6. Springs 17 engage these struts and act upon the shanks 15 so as to normally urge them toward the shaft 3; and thereby tend to draw the rollers 5 against the periphery of theV drum 2. By means of adjustable nuts 18 on the shanks 15 the tension of the springs 17 can be regir lated.

As above set forth the carrier 8 is looped around the rollers 5, passing both between the same and the bottom of the pan 4, and between the same and the drum 2; at one end of the machineit runs over an adjusting roller 19 and a stretching roller 20, both these rollers being at one side of the drum. rlhe carrier 8 also runs over another roller 20 mounted in the top of the cradle' 1 at the opposite side of the drum;,this roller serves asa wiping roller7 to remove from the surface ofthe article treated by the machine any excess starch which it may contain after itl passes out of the pan 4. Beyond the wiping roller at the right of the drum the cradlel is provided with arms 21 connected by cross bars or tie rods 22. These arms 21 support guide rolls 23 and 24 adjacent to the Y wiping roller 20 and a guide roller 25 at the extreme outer end of the arms 21; the carrier 8 passing over the. wiping roller 20; the roller .23, the roller 25 and then back again over the roller 24 into the tank; whereby the carrier affords an extension at this end of the machine along which the articles treated in the machine can be borne after passing through the pan 4; and upon which they can very conveniently be delivered to the attendant or operator.

rlhe drum 2 has its circumference perforated7 as shown in Fig. 2, and over this perforated circumference is placed a wool and chamois cloth covering 26. Upon the drum l loop a plurality of flexible cords 27 which are in contact with the drum over the major portion of its circumference; but spaced therefrom over aY portion of the circumference adjacent the wiping roll 20. The cords 27 are caused to be spaced over the portion of the drum 2 mentioned by means of a guide roller 28 supported above the wiping roller 20 by a. pair of adjustably mountedy arms 29. The roller 28 may be grooved for each of the cords 27; and the arms 29 will be mounted upon pivot bolts through lugs in the parts 21 of the cradle. By 4loosening the nuts on these bolts the arms 29Vmay be revolved up or down and the position ofthe roller 28 adjusted.

The stretching roll 20 at the left of the drum and the wiping roll at the right of the drum are both adjustably mounted by providing bearings 30, which slide in slots toward and from the shaft 3. Each of the bearings is associated with a spring 31 and an adjusting screw 32 which is carried by means of threaded openings in the projections 33 at the side of the cradle. The only difference in the adjusting arrangement between these two rollers is the fact that in the case of the wiping roll the spring is between the screw and the bearing 30, and in the case of the stretching roll the screw engages the bearing `30 directly,'and the spring 31 acts upon the opposite side of the bearing and the lug against which the spring abuts.

It Vwill be understood, of course; that by turning the adjusting screws 32 at the opposite ends of the stretching and wiping roller; they can be urged toward the drum 2 with greater or less power, and thus vary their effect.

The roller 19 is a tension roll and is provided with bearings 34 which slide in the slotted projection 35. The bearings 34 have internally threaded lugs 36 receiving each a screw bolt 37, which is mounted to turn in bearings 38. The Yportions of the bolt 37 which engage the lugs 38 may be smooth and vthis bolt may be held against endwise movement in any suitable way; so that when it is turned 1t will draw the roller 19 up or move 1t 1n the opposite direction as desired. This adjusting bolt 37 can conveniently be provided with a milled head 39 to enable it to be more easily turned. f'

The function of the machine and the cooperation of the various parts will now be clear. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the article to be starched is put in at the left between the drum and the carrier 8, and as the drum is rotated in a counter clockwise direction the article is carried down into the starching solution and up over the wiping roller 20 to the extension of the apron which passes over the wiping roll to the end roller .25; and as the article passes upon the extension, the cords 27 prevent it from clinging to the drum and being carried around into the pan 4 a second time. By a slight tension on the article as it is fed into the machine between the drum and the stretching roll any wrinkles in the article can be removed. The starch is agitated by means of scoops 40 on the inside of the drum 2 whereby the starch is kept at all time in the free and thin liquid state necessary for successful operation.

The springs 17 act upon the frames 9 in such a way that the rollers 5 tend to press one section of the carrier against the lower side of the drum, and the other section of the carrier which passes below the rollers 5 will lby means of the bolts 37 and to some extent by the screws 32 when the stretching roll and the wiping roll are adjusted. The starch is taken up by the flat cover 26 of the drum by the lower section of the carrier 8; so that when the article is fed between'the carrier and the drum a thin lm of starch is applied to both sides and this film is worked into the texture of the article by means of the rollers 5. In my machine there is no danger of any buttons being broken or any bart of the article being torn ing the frames 9 bymeans of the nuts 18. The upper section of the carrier iscapable of exerting a slight lifting force on the drum, and even should the carrier be drawn somewhat tight the proper operation of the machine will not be effected. By obviating the necessity of changing the position of the drum and elfecting all adjustmentsY by means of the carrier and corrugated rollers the shaft 3 can remain in mesh with the driving gear at all times and no interruption take place. It is also unnecessary for the operator to wipe off the surplus starch with his hand as the article comes out of the machine; since this is taken care of by the wiping roller at the right adjacent to the extension of the carrier at the end where the machine discharges.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure and States is:

protect by Letters Patent of the United 1. The combinationof a rotatable drum, a i

cradle in which the drum is carried, supporting members secured to opposite sides of the cradle, and three rollers arranged side by side in said members in position to bear against the face of the drum, one of said rollers being yieldably mounted.

2. The combination of a rotatable drum, a cradle in which the drum is carried, a pair of supporting members resiliently secured to opposite sides of the cradle, and three rollers arranged side by side in said members in position to bear against the face of the drum, one of said rollers being yieldably mounted.

3. The combination of a rotatable drum, a cradle in which the. drum is carried, a pair of supporting members pivotally connected to opposite sides of the cradle, and three rollersv arranged side by side in said ymembers in position to bear against the face of the drum, one of said rollers being yieldably mounted. y

4. The combination of a rotatable drum, a cradle in which the drum is carried, a pair of supporting members pivotally and resiliently connected to opposite sides of the cradle, and three rollers arranged side by side in said members in position toy bear against the face of the drum, one of said rollers being yieldably mounted.

5. In a starching machine, the combination of a rotatable hollow drum having its ends open, a starchv container in which the drum revolves, means for holding articles to be treated in contact with the drum as said articles are passed through the container, and scoops mounted inside the drum and between the open ends thereof for 'agitating the starch in the container.

6. The combination of a rotatable drum, a cradle in which the drum is carried, a plurality of supporting members adjustably connected to each side of the drum, the memcounty of Dauphin and State of Pennsylbers on one side being, opposite those on the Vania, this nineteenth dey of June, A. D. l0 other, and a plurality of rollers mounted 1915. side by .side in each pair of oppositely disposed members to bear upon the face of the JOHN LYNCH' drum, one roller in each pair of said 1nem- Witnesses: bers being yeldable.A WM. E. ORTI-I,

Signed et the city of Harrisburg, in the EDWIN W. JACKSON.

Gopies of Ythis patent may be obtined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Entente,

,Washingtom 11C. A 

